First, please excuse my ignorance; I'm too lazy to conduct any research on my own but I thought it would be a good idea to ask the 'common folk' from Britain and other parts of the U.K. my questions.

So, let me ask my questions; why do consumer goods, real property, etc. seem so expensive in Britain? And are salaries and wages comparable to these high prices. i.e. The prices may seem expensive to foreigners but the wages are high too so they even themselves out.

Thoughts/opinions please..

the goverment put to much bloody tax on everything that why

Well we always seem to say that the cost of living in the USA is cheap when compared to here, but the wages reflect that. We get paid more but taxes and goods are higher.
And the property prices over here are just plain ridiculous.

Cheap in UK (comparable or lower in price to USA): shorthaul flights, supermarket prices (except most meat), electrical goods i.e. computers, appliances (unless you buy the better made USA ones) a pint of beer, euro wines, tools (especially them cheap chinese power tool imports) and most of all: council tax is thousands cheaper than house tax rates in NJ

I did not mention the NHS because within 5 years I believe they will scrap it and we will be going private....but that is another debate.

In lbs, what would an accountant make for a salary? And how much for a pint of beer at a pub?

Its expensive in all of Europe not just the UK,but the UK is leading I think.

In lbs, what would an accountant make for a salary? And how much for a pint of beer at a pub?

My cousin works as an accountant in a city called Bristol in England and he earns £26k [$51,000] per year. He graduated from university two years ago so that will be the lower end of the salaries range. I'm just guessing here, I'm no accountant.

My cousin works as an accountant in a city called Bristol in England and he earns £26k [$51,000] per year. He graduated from university two years ago so that will be the lower end of the salaries range. I'm just guessing here, I'm no accountant.

Thats very low for a qualified accountant, we have several in my company and they make around £40k ($80,000).

In my field (IT)

An average IT software developer makes around £35k ($70,000) whereas an average Admin Assistant makes about £15k ($30,000)

Project Managers and Account Managers earn around £40k ($80,000)

Not sure if this is comparable with the States?

Thats very low for a qualified accountant, we have several in my company and they make around £40k ($80,000).

In my field (IT)

An average IT software developer makes around £35k ($70,000) whereas an average Admin Assistant makes about £15k ($30,000)

Project Managers and Account Managers earn around £40k ($80,000)

Not sure if this is comparable with the States?

Also in the UK we tend to get more holiday (Vacation time), in my company its about 5 weeks on average a year!

a brickys the job you wont i take home £150 aday any could earn more if i wonted

Thats very low for a qualified accountant, we have several in my company and they make around £40k ($80,000).

In my field (IT)

An average IT software developer makes around £35k ($70,000) whereas an average Admin Assistant makes about £15k ($30,000)

Project Managers and Account Managers earn around £40k ($80,000)

Not sure if this is comparable with the States?

He's only 23, and two years out of uni, can you become a fully qualified accountant in two years? As I said, I'm no expert.

Hey guys, thanx for all the responces. BTW, where's Anorak?

a brickys the job you wont i take home £150 aday any could earn more if i wonted

Respect you're ballin

a brickys the job you wont i take home £150 aday any could earn more if i wonted

you don't wanna be greedy?

you don't wanna be greedy?

hows that been greedy?

Its expensive in all of Europe not just the UK,but the UK is leading I think.

The Scandinavian countries are generally more expensive than Britain.

luxenburg it the most expensive country its like £7 a pint

Britain isn't that expensive. London is the richest place in Europe and attracts a lot of tourists so naturally it is pretty expensive. Property is particularly bad in the UK since we're a pretty populated place. Other than that I don't think the UK is that expensive. Have you been to Scandinavia, Iceland, Paris, Rome or Milan?

Our wages are quite high, especially in London, but I reckon you would easily have a higher material standard of living in the US than in the UK given comparable jobs. But it depends on what you want form your life; village cricket or a big ****off SUV...

I guess our lifestyle over here is also a bit more relaxed than in the US. Though certainly not as relaxed as most of continental Europe.


London will always be very expensive, it's one of the world's major cities and the world's most powerful financial centre. I don't much like London though.

Yea Sweden its like £5 a pint, but here in newquay we have the lowest wages in the country and some of the most expensive houses on average in the country work that one out :S